This theory was discussed on Michael Medved’s radio show yesterday (12-30-2008). His take and challenge to callers was that the US has been through many difficult crises in its history and has come through. This history he suggested makes such a scenario very remote. He challenged callers to suggest what could drive such a splitting of the country.

I wanted to call and suggest that the past history of the country does not provide for a couple of trends that have been occurring and could well lead to a substantial crisis and a splitting of the county.

The acceptance and reach of collectivism in the US has been growing for 150 years and now with the election of the democrats, we could be clearly past the point where most realize that they can “vote themselves money” by further undermining the individualism that has been the motive force behind our growth and wealth for over 200 years. People often invoke the analogy of a pendulum when talking about the oscillations of policy over time from individualism to collectivism and back. It could be that a ratchet wrench is a more apt analogy when it comes to the advancement of collectivism. Once a benefit is conferred, it is nearly impossible to roll it back. There have been some exceptions such as welfare reform. But the catastrophe of social security, medicare and Medicaid with a current unfunded liability of 100 trillion dollars according to a recent trustee report is a far more serious concern. These are Ponzi schemes as currently configured and the day of reckoning is not far off. (2010 could be a little premature.).

Look also at the continued progressivism in the tax code with the Obama administration wanting to increase and already unstable situation. If the tax burden is completely removed from most of the electorate, there will be no correction mechanism from further taxing of the “rich”. Since the “rich” includes the upper part of the middle class, this is seed for growing resentment and splitting the country by promoting class envy and a large client constituency of the federal government’s collectivist programs. It is very hard to see how this will reach equilibrium (the ratchet effect).

When the democrats go too far this time, it will be very difficult if not impossible to expect another Reagan like figure emerging that will bring us back. As much as Reagan accomplished, we must recognized that the growing collectivist state was not really brought under control. Now there will be too many people that will be vested in the collectivist state for a reversal to be possible at the ballot box. It could be that a split of the country, possibly along the lines proposed by Prenarin, will be the outcome of these building pressures.

Can we recover the limited government we once had where the 10th amendment was observed? It is hard for me to see how we can educate our populace at this point. I would love to see this happen but a serious revolution in the media and our schools must occur so that the masses can be re-taught about the importance of limited government and personal freedom and responsibility.